YWCA OF MINNEAPOLIS

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM (ECE): HIGH-QUALITY NATIONALLY ACCREDITED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS PROVIDED BY THE YWCA TO FAMILIES ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024, FIVE YWCA CHILDREN'S CENTERS SERVED 611 CHILDREN, AGES 6 WEEKS TO 12 YEARS OLD, FROM 438 FAMILIES. OUR FOUR COMMUNITY-BASED CENTERS SERVE DIVERSE CHILDREN LIVING IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOW INCOMES. KNOWING SCHOOL READINESS BEGINS AT BIRTH, EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO PREPARE CHILDREN TO EXCEL IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. YWCA CURRICULUM IS CULTURALLY CELEBRATORY, INCORPORATING ANTI-BIAS VALUES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS THAT EQUIP CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS. LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE INCORPORATED INTO EVERY PART OF THE DAY PROMOTING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, CREATIVITY AND THE ARTS, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL AND MOTOR SKILLS. THIS YEAR WE ADDED A WE CARE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CURRICULUM THAT FURTHER SUPPORTS TEACHERS AND CHILDREN. TEACHERS REGULARLY ASSESS ALL CHILDREN TO ENSURE AGE-APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS USING NATIONAL, RESEARCH-BASED ASSESSMENT TOOLSEARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TEACHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPANTS TO COMPLETE A CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE (CDA), A FOUNDATIONAL POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL FOR PURSUING A CAREER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THIS TRAINING OPPORTUNITY PROVIDES A PROFESSIONAL CAREER PATHWAY FOR SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPANTS, MOST OF WHOM HAVE LOW INCOMES AND LOW PAYING JOBS WITH 70% OR MORE IDENTIFYING AS PEOPLE OF COLOR. MOST ENROLLEES WILL BE WORKING TO INCREASE THEIR CERTIFICATION AND PAY IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD AND MANY ARE SINGLE MOTHERS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024, 171 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING 11 DIFFERENT COUNTIES ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. 141 PEOPLE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY, AND 81 PEOPLE OBTAINED A CDA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS: HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKS TO ELIMINATE HEALTH DISPARITIES WITH A SHIFT FROM FITNESS TO PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH, THROUGH FITNESS CLASSES, PERSONAL AND SMALL GROUP TRAINING, SWIMMING AND SWIMMING LESSONS, SENIOR OFFERINGS THAT INCLUDE NOT ONLY TARGETED FITNESS ACTIVITIES, BUT SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS WELL. OUR STAFF OF EXPERIENCED FITNESS AND AQUATICS PROFESSIONALS AIM TO BRING HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH CONTINUED PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. THESE PROFESSIONALS ANNUALLY HELP APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES FIND THE BEST WORKOUT PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE THEIR FITNESS GOALS. OF THESE MEMBERS; 8.4% ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0-11, 7.2% ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12-17, 40.9% ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-64, AND 43.5% ARE ABOVE THE AGE OF 65. IN ADDITION, 1,000+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN CLASSES AND CLINICS ON CPR, FIRST AID, LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATIONS, SWIMMING INSTRUCTION, AND OTHER SPECIALTY TOPICS TO ENHANCE THEIR PERSONAL WELL-BEING. SLIDING-FEE MEMBERSHIPS PROVIDE ACCESS TO OVER 600 INDIVIDUALS FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. OVER 900 PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, GIRLS & YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND YWCA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ALSO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING ACCESS TO THE HEALTH AND FITNESS FACILITIES AT NO COST TO THEM.CREATING ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF THE YWCA SINCE ITS FOUNDING. WE OFFER A PLETHORA OF PROGRAMMING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR UNIQUE COMMUNITY AND STRIVE TO INTRODUCE INDIVIDUALS TO HEALTH AND FITNESS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IT. IN 2024, THE YWCA HELD ITS 15TH ANNUAL YWCA MINNEAPOLIS TRIATHLON, WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,000 WOMEN AND NON-BINARY TRIATHLETES WHO REGISTERED FOR THE EVENT. THE RACE ATTRACTED PARTICIPANT'S AGES 11 TO 80+ WITH VARYING LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE AND DIVERSITY.